Starbucks' new drive-thru in Texas is groundbreaking first '3D printed store' in the US

Starbucks has opened its first 3D printed store in the US in Brownsville, Texas. The location is drive-thru only and is made of 3D printed concrete materials

Charlie Jones Senior US Reporter

09:02 ET, 30 Apr 2025Updated 09:03 ET, 30 Apr 2025

The construction process was mostly carried out by a massive automated 3D printer (Image: AP)

Starbucks is set to open its first 3D printed store. It is unveiling the new store in Brownsville, Texas, with the new location set to join the Seattle-based coffee giant's 17,000 across the US, while the firm is already making big changes for their employees.

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The construction of this store was largely handled by a computer-controlled robotic arm that methodically layered concrete, giving the outer walls a unique texture.

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This drive-thru only location, set to open its doors on Friday, places Starbucks among a handful of major retailers experimenting with 3D printing for commercial construction. This comes after the chain is ringing in the changes - having just announced a new summer menu with fan favorites returning for 2025.

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This technology has primarily been utilized in residential construction as builders seek innovative solutions to the affordable housing crisis.

A view of the exterior shows the new 3D printed Starbucks building(Image: AP)

Starbucks has yet to reveal whether more such stores are in the pipeline or why they selected Brownsville, a city of approximately 190,000 residents with at least four other Starbucks locations.

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At first glance, the compact rectangular building bearing the Starbucks logo appears like any other, but upon closer inspection, the walls exhibit a ridged texture reminiscent of stacked tubes.

Industry experts view this store as an example of the construction sector exploring the potential applications of 3D printing technology.

A wider view of the new store(Image: AP)

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"It's early days yet," James Rose, director of the Institute for Smart Structures at the University of Tennessee, commented on the burgeoning scene.

"I'm happy to see people doing all of these different things with it, and I think at some point we'll figure out what its best use is. But right now I think you're going to see lots of experimentation, and I think that's a good thing."

The innovative shop has been turning heads on a bustling street where Faviola Maldonado was one of the locals intrigued by the unique construction evolving next door.

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Whether this is a publicity stunt or a serious way to expand their number of stores, is yet to be seen(Image: AP)

"It was just different," remarked Maldonado, who used to run a jewelry store adjacent to the site until her recent move. "It was super high technology."

Starbucks has acknowledged the spot as its first 3D-printed establishment in the U.S., though they passed up the chance for an interview.

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Addressing the novel venture, Andrew McCoy, associate director of research and innovation at the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech, labeled the new store as "leading edge."

A close up of the printed walls(Image: AP)

Though currently costlier than traditional methods, 3D construction tech offers solutions to labor shortages and speeds up building processes, according to McCoy. He forecasts a future where cost-efficiency will rise hand-in-hand with technological advancements.

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"You are starting to see the technology is getting faster, smaller," McCoy observed. "It's getting easier to use."